SW China to make world's largest radio telescope a tourism resort

[onebyone]

SW China to make world's largest radio telescope a tourism resort
2017-03-22 08:50 Xinhua Editor: Mo Hong'e

Southwest China's Guizhou Province plans to spend 5 billion yuan (725 million U.S. dollars) to turn the world's largest radio telescope into a tourist resort.

A total of 13 projects will include a learning center on radio astronomy, geological park detailing the karst landscape and a sci-fi-themed hotel, said an official with Pingtang county government, where the Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) is located.

FAST, the world's largest single-dish telescope with a diameter of a half kilometer, is located at the Dawodang depression, a natural karst basin in Pingtang, a once impoverished area in mountainous Guizhou.

The FAST went into use last September and currently hosts around 2,000 visitors a day, free of charge.

"Making use of current public attention to the FAST, the province will build a resort devoted to astronomy and geology to bring economic development to Pingtang County and its surrounding area," said the official.

http://www.ecns.cn/travel/2017/03-22/250109.shtml

 

[samsara]

The world’s largest alien-finding telescope is now open to visitors in China

By MeganEaves - Lonely Planet - 2017-03-16

The world’s largest filled-aperture radio telescope can now be visited by tourists for the first time. The Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), located in southwestern China in Guizhou province, was designed primarily to search for radio waves from galaxies and stars, and interstellar communications – to find signs of alien life.

Aerial view of the world’s largest radio telescope called FAST (Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope) in Pingtang county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou province, 25 September 2016. Image by Xinhua​

Although FAST began trial operations in September 2016, it opened for the first time to tourists this week. A capped limit of 2000 visitors are admitted to facility per day, and admission fees have been waived initially. A visit offers the chance to learn more about what the telescope does and how it searches for alien life at the astronomical museum located inside. There is also a viewing platform where visitors can get a bird’s eye view of the gigantic telescope, which is 500 metres in diameter – about the size of 30 football fields.

Aerial view of the world’s largest radio telescope called FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope) in Pingtang county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou province, 25 September 2016. Image by imaginechina​

FAST is located in a rural mountainous part of Guizhou, and the surrounding area has been designated as a scenic zone. A shuttle bus and museum entry are still ticketed at ¥50 (US$7.20) each, though the telescope itself is free.

Visitors centre, at FAST in Pingtang county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou province. Image by imaginechina​

RELATED STORY:
China just started operating the world’s largest radio telescope | Lonely Planet

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

The world’s largest alien-finding telescope is now open to visitors in China

By MeganEaves - Lonely Planet - 2017-03-16

The world’s largest filled-aperture radio telescope can now be visited by tourists for the first time. The Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), located in southwestern China in Guizhou province, was designed primarily to search for radio waves from galaxies and stars, and interstellar communications – to find signs of alien life.

Aerial view of the world’s largest radio telescope called FAST (Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope) in Pingtang county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou province, 25 September 2016. Image by Xinhua​

Although FAST began trial operations in September 2016, it opened for the first time to tourists this week. A capped limit of 2000 visitors are admitted to facility per day, and admission fees have been waived initially. A visit offers the chance to learn more about what the telescope does and how it searches for alien life at the astronomical museum located inside. There is also a viewing platform where visitors can get a bird’s eye view of the gigantic telescope, which is 500 metres in diameter – about the size of 30 football fields.

Aerial view of the world’s largest radio telescope called FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope) in Pingtang county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou province, 25 September 2016. Image by imaginechina​

FAST is located in a rural mountainous part of Guizhou, and the surrounding area has been designated as a scenic zone. A shuttle bus and museum entry are still ticketed at ¥50 (US$7.20) each, though the telescope itself is free.

Visitors centre, at FAST in Pingtang county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou province. Image by imaginechina​

RELATED STORY:
China just started operating the world’s largest radio telescope | Lonely Planet

This is the problem with Chinese authorities.

They spent 100 million on science, and then 750 million on other tourism.

Wouldn't it have been far better if those 750 million were spent on other areas of science?

Many huge research projects could have been funded by those 750 million.

 

[samsara]

This is the problem with Chinese authorities.

They spent 100 million on science, and then 750 million on other tourism.

Wouldn't it have been far better if those 750 million were spent on other areas of science?

Many huge research projects could have been funded by those 750 million.

@Bussard Ramjet, you're a funny Indian indeed

EVER THINK that the CNY5 billion that the local govt of Guizhou is going to spend there incl. the sum to build the various supporting infrastructure, creating many jobs both in the construction works during the development and in tourism industry when in operation as well as generating steady revenue over many years to come and eventually may have break even within 10 years or so.

WHY do you think so many tourists from abroad visiting China year by year? Aside from the availability of plenty of natural wonder, China builds lot of INFRASTRUCTURE as well as man-made attractions to support the natural wonder, building a huge ecosystem that creates a rock solid tourism industry! Excellent infrastructure is the key word!

@Bussard Ramjet, if you get the opportunity, set a leisure trip to China to see by yourself, then you'll understand what I said here... seeing is believing! I've been in both IND & CHN.

 

[shadows888]

This is the problem with Chinese authorities.

They spent 100 million on science, and then 750 million on other tourism.

Wouldn't it have been far better if those 750 million were spent on other areas of science?

Many huge research projects could have been funded by those 750 million.

what if they make 10 billion from tourism? it's called an investment.

 

[AndrewJin]

This is the problem with Chinese authorities.

They spent 100 million on science, and then 750 million on other tourism.

Wouldn't it have been far better if those 750 million were spent on other areas of science?

Many huge research projects could have been funded by those 750 million.

Shallow comment.
No wonder your country will remain poor forever.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Shallow comment.
No wonder your country will remain poor forever.

LOL, how?
How is it a shallow comment?

Have you ever tried to see the ginormous amounts of overcapacity there is in China?

 

[yusheng]

Shallow comment.
No wonder your country will remain poor forever.

He cannot distinguish the public spending by government and private investment in China.
In fact, he knows nothing about Chinese economic institution.

 

[Jlaw]

This indian does not understand how economy work.

 

[Beast]

This Indian comment for this thread is as good as thrash. Simple investment and return also could not understand to sustain bigger future.

This kind of simple logic even my 4 year old nephew knows that.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

what if they make 10 billion from tourism? it's called an investment.

Look at all the excess investment that you have already built up in the economy.

he can not distinguish the public spending by government and private investment in China.
in fact, he knows nothing about Chinese economic institution.

I think it is pretty clearly stated that the investment is by the government.

Indian comment for this thread is as good as thrash. Simple investment and return also could not understand to sustain bigger future.

This kind of simple logic even my 4years old nephew knows that.

Really, looking at the mountains of debt that China has piled up internally, it seems that it is China that doesn't understand the principle of returns.

 

[terranMarine]

Look at all the excess investment that you have already built up in the economy.



I think it is pretty clearly stated that the investment is by the government.




Really, looking at the mountains of debt that China has piled up internally, it seems that it is China that doesn't understand the principle of returns.

This coming from a chemical engineer student is remarkable

 

[Jlaw]

all Supa Powans think they do.
The truth is they even don't understand how agriculture works in their agrarian country

This coming from a chemical engineer student is remarkable

Chemical engineer accreditation from Mumbai not accepted here. Equivalent to grade 12

 

[AndrewJin]

2：06
Pingtang County

 

[powastick]

Wouldn't the tourism pollute radio signals?